Scottish Transport Honour For South Ayrshire Council

South Ayrshire Council has scooped a top award at the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow, winning the Cycling Improvements category.

Held in association with Transport Times and supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, the awards are now in their eighth year and are an opportunity for transport professionals and providers to showcase their challenging and innovative project work nationally, while also recognising and celebrating significant industry achievements.

This year, judges were impressed with the significant boost in the number of people cycling in South Ayrshire, thanks to the Council’s improvements to the local cycling network.

These included upgrades to on and off road cycle lanes (supportet by transport planning and engineering), providing cycling shelters at schools, improved cycle parking facilities in Ayr and a number of cycle counters which have been used to verify the increased use of facilities.

Judges also noted the positive impact the improvements had made on safety, with a reduction in the number of injuries and accidents involving cyclists on the open road.

Speaking at the award presentation, Councillor Peter Convery, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and the Environment said: “I’m delighted the Council has won this award because, over the past eight years, we have dramatically improved facilities and routes for cyclists in South Ayrshire.

“All this has been done at no cost the Council with over £2.5 million coming from external funding sources and the hard work of the Transportation team has paid dividends and I’d like to congratulate them on this well deserved success.

“The award is a direct reflection on their hard work, as well as continued evidence that the Council supports cycling as a great way to get fit, improve the environment and to take advantage of the wonderful scenery South Ayrshire has to offer.”

Mike Newall, South Ayrshire Council’s Head of Planning and Enterprise said: “South Ayrshire is an area of great scenic beauty and much of it can be easily explored on a bike. In developing the network of cycle paths, we have also factored road users, walkers and horse riders into our plans, offering something for everyone.”I’m delighted for the team that their ongoing efforts to improve the cycling network and to expand cycling facilities in South Ayrshire have met with national recognition. I’m confident the work we have done will continue to be used and enjoyed and we are already looking ahead towards further improvements and a bigger uptake in the number of people cycling and enjoying the best of South Ayrshire.”